The Albion have not won 4 games in a row since September 2001 and that fact didn’t change last weekend as the Seagulls hoped to match that feat with a win over Bristol City.

In truth the Seagulls never looked like matching that record with a very disappointing display against promotion chasing Bristol City.

Former Premiership referee Mike Riley played his part in that disappointing display when he sent off Tommy Fraser last one for a stamp on the City goalkeepers back. A very harsh decision if you look back at the footage

He then quite correctly awarded City a penalty a few minutes later when Dean Hammond chopped down Brian Wilson in the area so his overal influence on the result wasn’t huge.

If there was anyone to blame for the Seagulls good run of form coming to an end  then it was the players themselves who failed to impress against a well drilled but far from stunning Bristol City side. 

You would be hard pressed to pick out any decent chances the Seagulls crafted out in the entier second half while in the first half the best they could manager were long range efforts which bearly tested City’s goalkeeper.

Albion’s unpreditable form has been one of the main features of this season. A few decent wins are nearly always followed up with a string of defeats. Hopefully that won’t be the case following the defeat against Bristol City, but if the Seagulls do end up stuggleing for the next win it won’t come as a huge shock!

One thing is for certain Albion’s currernt crop of youngsters will have learnt a lot come the end of the season. Many of them will be completing their first full season in the first team and the exerience they will have gained will be as valuble as all the years of coaching they have receved.

With that in mind many Albion fans and pundits believe that next season could see Albion pushing for promotion. There have been signs this season that on their day that Albion can match anyone in this division.

As for this season it could go either way. A good run would see Albion push towards the plays offs while a disasterous run would see us drop back down towards trouble, but most likely Albion’s inconsistent form will continue and our first midtable finish in years will be acheved. If that is the case then it will have to go down as a sucsesful season.

Added on Tuesday, February 27th, 2007 at 9:42 pm under Features by Wilka.